Osweiler Heading to the Land of the Sun

Greg Berger texted Brock Osweiler Wednesday night after hearing the good news. Berger, a lifelong friend of the Osweilers, as well as being a Notre Dame fan, had some news of his own to share.

"I've just got a new number one team, and I've got to go buy some new gear," he told Brock. That's because Osweiler, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound quarterback prospect from Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont. verbally committed to Dennis Erickson and the Arizona State Sun Devils over scholarship offers from Stanford and Washington State. UCLA, Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee and many, many others had shown interest in Osweiler before his decision. ASU was the first to offer.

"After months of my stomach turning and my mind going non-stop I got a feeling this morning that I've never had before in my life," Osweiler told Scout.com. "I'm going to go play football for Arizona State. I just talked to Dennis Erickson a few minutes ago."

No doubt many in the Flathead Valley will soon be sporting maroon and gold and following the Sun Devils' exploits, as Osweiler has become something of a sports legend in the community. He verbally committed to play basketball for Gonzaga the summer between his ninth and tenth-grade years, yet has thrown the football around for some ridiculous numbers the past couple of seasons; 2,454 yards and 22 touchdowns his 10th-grade year, for starters.

The more interest Osweiler generated on the gridiron, the more he thought about a future in football. And Wednesday those thoughts blossomed into a commitment. But it happened in the most unusual way.

Recently Osweiler has been using the internet as a resource. "I've been getting on daily to see what quarterbacks are committing," he said. "I went to Florida State's (2008) recruiting class, and I'm aware they have E.J. Manuel. But when I looked at E.J. Manuel, I kept thinking back to Jamarcus Russell. You can tell he (Manuel) is the right fit for Coach Jimbo Fisher and Florida State.

"I clicked on Arizona State's list and saw Jack Elway listed. I look forward to meeting him and getting to compete with him. Then I saw that they had four solid receiver signees and a great tight end, and that's when everything started clicking. Everything got in order. There was a check mark with Arizona State next to it in my head, so I knew that was it."

Osweiler was still looking for more - for something to help him make this decision complete. Tuesday night, he phoned Randy Ramey, a family friend and confidant from Spokane. "I called him and told him I needed some advice," Brock said. "He told me that if I was his son, I'd want you to pick a school based on surrounding yourself with good, solid people, because they are the ones that are going to shape you into the adult you will become."

By Wednesday morning, Osweiler was still in a funk. Then, just like John Lee Hooker and the boogie-woogie, he had something in him and he had to let it out.

It was in his third period class - Advanced Multimedia. "It was like a little god-fairy flew into my stomach and just opened up a note and it said 'ASU'," he said. "That was it.

"When all this clicked today, I couldn't even stay in class. I told my teacher, 'Man, I gotta go. I gotta go talk to my coach or someone.'"

Osweiler went and found Flathead Head Football coach Russell McCarvel. He told him of his revelation and the reasons he felt Tempe was the place he needed to be. McCarvel didn't need to be sold; he knew Osweiler wasn't prone to flights of fancy.

This was real.

Next on Osweiler's to-do list; phone calls to Mom and Dad. "I told him all the reasons why it came about," Brock said. "Then I called my Mom and they were all aboard.

Probably the toughest call came next - to the Gonzaga staff. "I called Coach (Leon) Rice, so they know where I stand," Osweiler said. "He was very understanding. He said that we'll still be in touch. He helped make the conversation go very well."

And finally, a call to Coach Erickson.

"I called and asked Coach Erickson if there was room on his roster for another quarterback for the 09 season, and he said 'Heck yes!'," Osweiler said. "He said he was very glad I made this decision and it's going to be a great fit for my family and I and he said he's very excited to get me down there."

Osweiler hasn't ruled out basketball completely. "(Arizona State football) Coach (Matt) Lubick saw me play basketball in the winter, and he told me they would talk to the basketball staff for me," he said. "He said that if I wanted to play basketball at Arizona State, I'm sure there's a place for me. And if the situation arises and that's where my heart ends up, I'm sure I could make the switch."

But for right now it's an either/or deal. Osweiler has previously said he wants to concentrate on just one sport in college, and for right now he's sticking with that thought.

"I really want to finish out this (AAU) spring with the Portland Legends, but once that's over there's a NIKE SPARQ trainer I've been working with for over a year (Phil Jackson) for football, and I want to get focused in for football. I want to do everything I can to get ready."

At some point Osweiler plans on taking an unofficial visit to Tempe before school starts, perhaps in June. He's never been to ASU before, but has heard nothing but praise about the environment.

"I've been in the Phoenix Airport, but I haven't been there (ASU)," he said. "But I've talked to a bunch of people and they've told me it's the most beautiful campus they've been on. So I know I'm going to go into a good situation with Coach Erickson and I'm going into a safe, secure place.

"I feel really content right now. It's a relief and a feeling I haven't had in months."